Kuilong U-Morok grower shows path to foster health
Source: The Sangai Express / Nando Waikhom

Imphal, October 24 2023: Unlike olden days, our society is besieged with vegetables grown using high amounts of chemical fertilizers and their palpable side effects.

However, a native of a remote village in Tamenglong district has shown the path to come out from being enmeshed in this difficult situation.

Kuilong village situated around 50 kilometers from Tamei Sub-division Headquarters of Tamenglong district has a profound traditional agricultural and farming practice which relies on nature.

Many villagers here have spurned the application of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and even heavy machinery in growing vegetables in their agricultural/farm lands.

Kuilong U-Morok grower shows path to foster health

55-year old Takampibou Wisuanamai is one of the villagers who have stuck to the practice of traditional agricultural and farming methods.

Among the multiple crops grown in his farm, U-Morok is grown in large scale and is flourishing the most.

With the crop (U-Morok) approaching harvest season (beginning of November), he is trying to make a difference out of his sweat and toil this season and subsequently earning a handsome income.

"The total area in which I grow U-Morok this time (in this season) is around an acre which is almost double of last year's cultivation.

I think I could earn between Rs 55,000 to Rs 65,000 from the cultivation as the price of U-Morok has gone up now unlike in the past years", he said.

He also said that the demand for U-Morok this season has increased, with demand for the crop coming even from Nagaland.

When asked about the mantras of his success in U-Morok cultivation, Takampibou said that he still adheres to the farming method that has been handed down by his forefathers.

Stating that U-Morok is one of the crops that grow most suitably in the soil of Kuilong and other parts of Tamei Subdivision, the farmer explained that he sows U-Morok seeds in the first week of October after the simple preparation of soil using ordinary tools like spades and shovels.

He continued that an intensive effort to nurture the seeds till the stage of germination and young stages is required as they can be infected by pests.

Takampibou added that one could make a lot of profit out of U-Morok cultivation in Kuilong by just relying on the traditional farming method if he/she is strongly determined and hard working.

The persistent farmer continued that he has already started reaping benefits of growing other seasonal crops like pumpkin and green chilli.

Rejecting the idea of adding chemical fertilizers in growing crops, especially in U-Morok cultivation, he said that such farming practices make the produce fester fast which is not suitable for remote villages like Kuilong.

The farmer further said that crops which grow without chemical fertilizers can be preserved for longer days and have the capacity to endure even extreme climatic conditions unlike those which have added chemical fertilizers.

While underscoring the importance of producing organic vegetables and crops in the present day, he said that human beings are now susceptible to many diseases which relate to the consumption of vegetables and crops that are grown using high amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Although farmers like Takampibou are not aware of the scientifically termed farming system called 'natural farming', their traditional knowledge and practice of agriculture and farming are closely associated with the earlier farming method.

If these farmers are encouraged with regards to their farming practices and given additional knowledge about natural farming methods, the risk of consuming crops laden with chemical fertilizers and pesticides in our society could be minimized to a great extent.

This article is written under the 3rd Award in the Scientific Journalism Programme of the Public Relations and Media Management Cell, CAU, Imphal.

Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information and Publicity Officer and Head, PRMM Cell, CAU Imphal can be contacted at [email protected] to know more about this article and related information .